Back-to-back overtime winners courtesy of captain Amber Gaudette last weekend have the UPEI Panthers women’s hockey team boasting a winning record nine games into the Atlantic University Sport season.
The 22-year-old Alberton-native netted the clutch goals in a 2-1 win against the Mount Allison Mounties and a 1-0 win over the St. Thomas Tommies at UPEI.
“Our team has been working really hard and we deserve to come out on top in those close games,” Gaudette said. “To be able to say that I played a role in that . . . I’m very happy.”
The 5-4 Panthers are on the road this weekend, facing off with Saint Mary’s Saturday and St. F.X. Sunday in what will be the club’s last action prior to the Christmas break.
“There is no question we are pleased with our results to date,” said head coach Bruce Donaldson. “With a little bit of extra luck, we could be standing at 7-2, but we’ll take where we are for now.”
Women’s hockey at UPEI has a history of losing seasons, including a last-place finish at 3-17-4 last year.
“We have been building the program for some time, and each year we seem to get a little closer,” said Donaldson, who is in his third season behind the bench. “We started a new system two years ago and it is really starting to pay off.”
A team commitment to zone defense and competition for roster spots has resulted in remarkable improvement, said Donaldson. The Panthers now carry 14 forwards and eight defencemen.
Gaudette said better focus and increased confidence help, too.
“We know that we have a great squad with a lot of talent and heart,” she said. “If we show up to play, we can give any team in this league a run for their money.”
In the past, the Panthers have entered games against top-ranked clubs with a “very different outlook,” said Gaudette.
But no longer.
“We are all really excited and feel we will just keep getting better and better,” she said.
Kelsey O’Donnell, a fifth-year forward from Souris, leads the team in scoring with four goals and five assists, tied for sixth in the league.
Goaltender Kristy Dobson sits third in goals against average with a sparkling 1.45 in four games played.
She also boasts a shutout and a .927 save percentage.
Donaldson praised both of his goalies, saying Dobson and Bailey Toupin have given the team a chance to compete in every game they’ve played.
The addition of local rookies Laura Bradley and Keirstin Visser has added depth to the blue-line, and has pushed the number of Island players to eight.
Up front, Jessie-Anne Howard of Kingston, Ont., gives the club some additional scoring punch, while former P.E.I. Winter Games players Olivia Doughart and Samantha Sweet bring speed and a great desire to compete, said Donaldson.
This weekend, the Panthers will battle two very different teams in last-place Saint Mary’s and perennial power St. F.X.
Gaudette said converting offensively will be key versus the Huskies, but a tight defensive game will be the way to success over the X-Women.
“If we can stay disciplined and capitalize on our opportunities, it should be a great hockey game,” she said of the Sunday matinee versus the second-place team. “We hope to go into the break on a high note.”
While Moncton and St. F.X. are the conference’s powerhouses, the results between the five other teams are very tight.
UPEI is tied with Mount Allison for third place.
“The AUS is very close this year,” said Donaldson. “It’s great hockey. Each night you need to be ready to play, otherwise you will be disappointed in the end result.”
www.upei.ca/athletics/womens-hockey
